UK Snap Election: 8 June 2017

Thornberry? She’s racist and stupid.

For the white van thing?

Anyway, Mrs May is refusing to do an interview on Women’s Hour on Radio 4 tomorrow, sending Justine Greening along in her stead. For someone who started the campaign front and centre, and largely focused on her leadership abilities, this is starting to look like something might actually be up. “Don’t you think she looks tired?” etc…

Amongst other things.

Well, Tory thinking is that the BBC are a bunch of liberals and lefties anyway.

Emma Barnett, on Women’s Hour, gave Corbyn his toughest interview of the campaign so far. Perhaps the softball, cosy questioning of the The One Show is more Mrs May’s level. It’s certainly starting to look that way.

Urgh.

u ok hun?

I’m not going to disagree with you. But James Naughtie did not help the BBC’s cause when I heard him speak.

May getting heat for the lukewarm non-critical response to the US pulling out of the Paris Agreement. ‘Strong’ certainly being laughed at.

What’s the BBC’s cause, do you imagine? What did Naughtie say that so concerned you?

He openly identified himself as a liberal and he treated a different view - not racist or anything like that - with contempt. The former isn’t a problem; the latter is. Put the two together and you see that he’s Not Helping.

Gawd, openly identified himself as a liberal. What a strange little world you live in Quartz. Openly. :eek:

Now tell me about Nick Robinson, Andrew Neil and John Humphries, Quartz. And Paxman, even though he’s no longer at the BBC. What are their political affiliations, do you think? They’ve been the main interviewers, heavyweights, Chief correspondents etc.

I mentioned it because he did, and because he treated a differing viewpoint with contempt. I would have had the same reaction if he had identified himself as a Conservative or a Socialist, or whatever.

I don’t care what their personal politics are; I do care when they don’t leave them at home.

Can you share more about this openly liberal incident that happened on your wireless? I understand if you feel unable to.

Sure. He was present at a dinner as the after-dinner speaker. He said he was a liberal (not a Liberal) He talked about talking to an American couple and that they were utterly barking mad. For having a viewpoint with which he disagreed. Sorry, but that’s not on.

Dear God.

It’s not a question of liking - or disliking - any viewpoint; it’s a question of respecting the right to hold that viewpoint. And as a professional reporter, he should report the facts and should strive to not cast his own viewpoint over those facts.

You and I may agree with JN’s liberal views, but I believe what he said was most unprofessional.

And now to praise the BBC: I’ve been enjoying their series of Election Blind Dates. I’ve not watched them, just read the articles on the BBC website.

There are viewpoints that don’t deserve respect. Personally, they have to meet two criteria:

a) They’re based on gut feeling and/or conspiracy theories, not evidence;

b) They, if enacted, harm innocent people.

Climate change denial, creationism and Brexit are good examples.

Indeed, but the right to hold those viewpoints should be held in respect.

After-dinner speeches aren’t reporting. Had he done that in his journalistic job, then it would indeed have been unprofessional.